One hospital worker in Chicago has been using money from her paycheck to help sick children feel better during the holidays.
For the past eight years, Jessie Tendayi, a food service aide with Trinity Hospital, has worked additional shifts and saved money to fund her mission.
‘It brings joy to me, and also brings joy to the children, that I’m making a difference’, Tendayi told WGN.
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Jessie Tendayi, a food service aide with Trinity Hospital, works additional shifts and saves money to buy holiday presents for sick children
She and her husband, Wendell, moved to Chicago 19 years ago from Zimbabwe. They have no children of their own.
‘But I do now. I do have a lot’, Tendayi told the Chicago Tribune.
Tendayi began the gift-giving in 2009 with 100 toys, but her generosity has multiplied tenfold.
This year Tendayi said she spent $5,000 on 1,000 toys for sick children at Advocate Children’s Hospital in Oak Lawn, Illinois, a Chicago suburb, CNN reported.
Tendayi’s gift-giving began in 2009 with 100 toys, but her generosity has multiplied tenfold
She has spent an estimated $5,000 on 1,000 toys this year
‘It’s amazing that someone’s giving their time and effort to make sure children in the hospital have a great Christmas too’, one of the recipients of Tendayi’s generosity told WGN.
Another child’s mother said Tendayi has helped lift her son’s spirits.
‘He doesn’t leave this room’, the mother said. ‘For him to have more toys to play with and keep him happy while we’re here is incredibly helpful, humbling and amazing’.
She and her husband, Wendell, moved to Chicago 19 years ago from Zimbabwe. They have no children of their own
Tendayi said her goal is to donate toys to sick children in hospitals year-round.
‘It’s a very good day for me. I’m happy, I’m happy to do this,’ she told the Chicago Tribune. ‘When God puts this in your heart, you don’t get tired. You love what you’re doing. I love helping other people’.
Tendayi has started a charity named Love for Children to help fund her initiative in future years.
